WALES manager Chris Coleman is keen for Raymond Verheijen to be part of his backroom staff after holding talks with the outspoken Dutchman.

Verheijen was assistant manager under Coleman’s predecessor Gary Speed, and is a popular figure with senior players in the national squad, including captain Aaron Ramsey and Craig Bellamy.

Many had expected Verheijen to be dispensed with after he expressed an interest in succeeding Speed, and with Coleman set to bring his former Fulham and Wales team-mate Kit Symons into the Wales set-up.

Osian Roberts, another of Speed’s assistants, had already held talks with Coleman, and Verheijen tweeted earlier this week that his initial discussions with the former Coventry boss had been “positive”.

And, although Coleman was keen to play down the significance of the meeting, he told BBC Sport Wales: “We’re very much looking for that Verheijen staying.

“But we’ve only had one meeting, so I spoke as much with Raymond as I did with Osian Roberts or anyone else – nothing special.

“People have made it into something that it’s not, really. It was a productive meeting and we’ll speak again. It was promising.”